Saturday, September 30, 2006

Organizing Tool

We purchased a new Computer Armoire so I have been cleaning, purging and organizing all afternoon. I am using my favorite organizing tool... the label maker. Not only is this my favorite, but my hubbies also. He has all of the drawers of this tool cabinets labeled. I love that when he says can you get me a phillip screwdriver or a tape measure I know exactly were to find it. I will post some pictures once everything is put away in the Armoire.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Junk Mail

I receive tons of junk mail each day. Lots of pre-approved credit card offers, mortgage and insurance offers. So much that it is really annoying. I work for a credit reporting agency and the way pre-approved offers work is that a company such as Household Bank contacts the credit bureaus and says we are looking for people 29-40 with A credit and then the credit bureaus give them a list of people who meet the criteria. Then they send out a mass mailing.

I have a solution....you can call 888-5-opt-out to stop pre-approved offers. It is an automated system where you can have your information blocked for 5 yrs or for life. I can't wait for the mail to lighten up!

Monday, September 25, 2006

Referrals!!!

Referrals are arriving. The CCAA has matched through 08/09/05. They referred 18 days this month!!! That is the largest month in a while. So... with a LID of 10/13/05 we have 65 days of referrals until they reach us. Now the million dollar questions is "How many months will it take to move through the 65 days?" Yes we still have a long way to go, but at least we are getting closer!

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Surprise Package!

Last week I sent a package to a fellow Adoptive Mom in waiting. I never expected anything in return. When I arrived home yesterday there was a notice that there would be a package waiting at the Post Office this morning.

I received (well, Megan received) a dress, shirt and the cutiest Onsie! There also was a small bear and a Tea Cup Tart Burner. The Tea Cup is so beautiful.

The adoption community is such a neat group of people. Basicly strangers deeply connected by the wait for the sweet babies that already fill our hearts and hopefully soon our homes! Thank you, Karen for the great and unexpected gift!

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

For those of you who did not tune into Oprah today, it was about the homes that Oprah's Angel Network has built in the Katrina/Rita Hurricane region. One of her guest was Matthew McConaughey. He has been active in hurricane relief since the beginning. Today he announced that he sold his Corvette on e bay to build a playground. He said something that really made me think...

"We schedule our work. We schedule our vacations. Service is the harder, selfishly sometimes, to schedule. But I've notice for me and for everybody that I know that signs up to give some time to something, as soon as you're done it feels like the vacation from the inside out"

Sunday, September 17, 2006

I have had a very busy weekend, but I feel like I have accomplished so much. On Saturday I had a morning doctor's appointment and then I went shopping with my Mom and sister. We are on a mission to finish most of our Christmas shopping before the big rush.

We did most of our shopping at Wal-Mart. Several hours and two heaping shopping carts later there was a lot to mark off of the list.

On Sunday we decided to have a lazy morning. We sleep in late and lazed around reading the newspaper. So nice! Then we worked around the house. All of the laundry is done, we mowed the grass and worked on the bathroom. We are in the finishing mode of a complete bathroom remodel. We hung towel racks, painted and installed the closet door. Then I got to do the fun stuff! I put everything back in the closet. I love the feeling of being organized!

The goal is to have the bathroom finished next weekend. This is the to do list:

Install Shower Doors (waiting on a part - should be here this week)Fill in some nail holes in the trim & touch up paintInstall Decorative Wall ShelfStencilHang CurtainOrganize the vanity

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Today we have been waiting 11 months for the baby call. Some days patiently, some days not so patient. My head says relax we'll get there when the time is right, while my heart screams "Where is my turn to be a Mommy!" I read this daily...

"The vision is for an appoined time, Though it tarry, wait earnestly for it, for it will come to pass"Hebakkuk 2:3

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Chuck recently brought home some cookie dough he bought as part of a fund raiser. We liked having a few fresh baked, warm cookies in the evening. It got me thinking and this is what I came up with.

I scooped my fresh cookie dough (I made Chocolate Chip using the Toll House recipe) onto a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. I then put the sheet in the freezer until the cookies where fairly solid (approx 1/2 hr). I then put 12 cookies into a freezer bag.

Now I can pull a bag out of the freezer in the afternoon when I return home from work. By the time we are ready for an evening snack, I can make fresh baked cookies!

A silence fell within the mistSomehow the Newcomer knew that thisMeant time had come for her to sayWhat was in the hearts of the five thousand plus that day

"Back on Earth, we wrote reports,Watched our children play in sportsWorked our gardens, sang our songsWent to church and clipped couponsWe smiled, we laughed, we cried, we foughtUnlike you, great we're not"

The tall man in the stovepipe hatStood and said, "Don't talk like that!Look at your country, look and seeYou died for freedom, just like me"

Then, before them all appeared a sceneOf rubbled streets and twisted beamsDeath, destruction, smoke and dustAnd people working just 'cause they must

Hauling ash, lifting stones,Knee deep in hell, but not alone"Look! Blackman, Whiteman, Brownman, YellowmanSide by side helping their fellow man!"

So said Martin, as he watched the scene"Even from nightmares, can be born a dream."

Down below three firemen raisedThe colors high into ashen hazeThe soldiers above had seen it beforeOn Iwo Jima back in '45

The man on sticks studied everything closelyThen shared his perceptions on what he saw mostly"I see pain, I see tears,I see sorrow -- but I don't see fear."

"You left behind husbands and wivesDaughters and sons and so many livesAre suffering now because of this wrongBut look very closely. You're not really gone.

All of those people, even those who've never met youAll of their lives, they'll never forget youDon't you see what has happened?Don't you see what you've done?You've brought them together, together as one.

With that the man in the stovepipe hat said"Take my hand," and from there he ledThree thousand plus heroes, Newcomers to heavenOn this day, two thousand one, nine eleven

Saturday, September 09, 2006

When I went to bed last night it was so quite. No TV, dogs barking, cars in the distance. Just the wonderful sound of night. One of the things I like about a quiet summer evening is the sound of the crickets and other night sounds.

I layed there for a long time just listening to that beautiful sound. Something so simple made me feel so calm, happy and brought back wonderful memories of my childhood.

Mom is originally from Virginia and every summer we would make a trip to visit. My grandparents, Mom & Pop, lived on a farm and had no air conditioning. I remembered all the nights I spend in the old farm house with the windows open hearing nothing but that wonderful sound.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Post Office Run

This afternoon Chuck ran to the Post Office for me. We needed stamps and I had a couple of packages to mail.

I sent a package to Karen from http://storyofava.blogspot.com I was her secret pal for a previous gift swap sponsered by the OctDTC05 Adoption Yahoo groups. I was peeking at her blog and thought she could use a pick me up. Hope you enjoy Karen!

I also sent a package to Chuck's Aunt Christina. We a have new cousin, Erkia Clara!I sent her an outfit and a couple of bibs. Can't wait to see that sweet baby girl!

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Brent, my brother-in-law, turned 38 today! We meet at my parents and had dinner. He opted not to have birthday cake, so we all made goodies. Mom made Chocolate Chip Pan Cookies, I made Brownies, and my sister made a Blueberry Pie. Hope you had a good one Brent!

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Well, today I enter the world of blogging! Let me start my saying my life is not very exciting. I will start by introducing myself. I am Wendi, age 35, from Central Indiana. I have been married for 5 years to a wonderful guy, Chuck. We have no children, but are in the process of adopting from China.

We started our adoption process March 05. We were DTC (Dossier to China) 09/23/05 and received a LID (Log in Date) 10/13/05. This is when the "real" wait began. We have been waiting for 10 mos and have no idea when the wait will end. For those of you not in the adoption community it is hard to understand. We basicly just have to wait our turn. Each month China will release referrals (a picture of child matched to a family with medical information). Depending on how many referrals each months determines the current wait times. Currently my adoption agency says the wait is 13-14 mos, but they expect that to increase.

It is frustrating, but the way I look at it is.....God knows when and where I will meet my sweet baby and I have to try to paitently wait. Easier said then done at times.

Off to finish dinner. On tonights menus: Crock Pot Pot Roast w/ gravy and left over cloverleaf rolls from yesterdays dinner. Yum!

About Me

Welcome! I am saved by God's amazing grace, a happy stay at home wife to my wonderful hubby of 16 years and mama to my 11 year old daughter. Megan joined our family at the age of 9 months when we adopted her from China. I live a great life on a tight budget! I love the simple things... faith, family, home, cooking, baking, crafting, reading and gardening. I hope you enjoy your visit and come again!